Indigenous Peoples Day is a holiday in the United States that celebrates and honors indigenous American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures). It is typically observed on the second Monday of October, which is the same day as Columbus Day, a federal holiday established decades ago to recognize the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas. Indigenous Peoples Day recognizes the Indigenous communities that have lived in the Americas for thousands of years and has become increasingly popular as a replacement for Columbus Day.

President Biden issued the first-ever presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples Day in 2021, recognizing the invaluable contributions and resilience of Indigenous peoples, their inherent sovereignty, and the Federal Government’s trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations. The day is meant to honor America’s first inhabitants and the Tribal Nations that continue to thrive today.

Indigenous Peoples Day is not yet a federal holiday, but there are two bills in Congress that propose to make it one. Several states and localities around the country have already designated the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day, or some other name honoring Native Americans.

The day is celebrated with appropriate ceremonies and activities that recognize the painful history Indigenous people have faced and celebrate their communities. It is also a day of protest and reclaiming history, acknowledging the history of dispossession and violence against Indigenous people. Native Americans have led numerous movements to advocate for their own rights, and Indigenous Peoples Day is a way to recognize their resilience and diversity.